8 hours ago
Cheryl stalker who 'can't stay away' admits to breaching restraining order
A convicted killer and stalker of Girls Aloud star Cheryl has admitted another breach of a restraining order after turning up at the singer's home.
Daniel Bannister pleaded guilty to a single charge of breaching a restraining order at Reading Magistrates' Court on Thursday, a court spokeswoman said.
The charge against the 50-year-old stated that he attended an address where he 'reasonably believed or reasonably suspected' Cheryl to be residing.
He was remanded into custody to appear at Reading Crown Court on September 23.
A court previously heard Bannister 'can't stay away' from the singer and was jailed for 16 weeks at Wycombe Magistrates' Court in March for repeatedly turning up at her Buckinghamshire home while under a restraining order.
He was initially jailed for four months in September last year, where he was handed a three-year restraining order, but breached it by turning up at her home in December.
During the hearing in which Bannister was jailed for 16 weeks, the court heard Cheryl 'immediately panicked' and was 'terrified' when she saw him outside her home – fearing for the safety of her eight-year-old son Bear, who she shared with late partner Liam Payne.
He spoke through an intercom system at the gate in January 2024, claiming he had 'come to get Cheryl', the court was told.
In July of the same year, he again called at the house and said: 'I'm really thirsty, I just want a glass of wine please'.
Speaking about the December visit in a statement to police, the singer said: 'I knew this was Daniel because I have had previous incidents where Daniel has come to my property.
'I immediately panicked when I saw Daniel. I feared for my safety and my child's safety. My son was due back from the cinema and I didn't want him to see Daniel. I was concerned he was looking for a way into the property. I want to protect my child from any harm.'
In 2012, Bannister killed 48-year-old Rajendra Patel in an attack at a south London YMCA shelter and pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
The incident took place at a hostel in Croydon. Bannister reportedly beat up Patel, who was his neighbour, as he was walking towards a lift.
Your Local Guardian reported that Patel died 15 days later of pulmonary thromboembolism linked to the attack.
Judge Nicholas Price said at the time: 'This is a tragic case. When you attacked Mr Patel you did not intend to cause serious bodily harm let alone cause death.
'But the attack undoubtedly goes beyond one punch, it is a sustained attack or more or less 30 to 40 seconds.
'It is clear you are not a danger to the public, but it is inevitable that you must serve an immediate custodial sentence.'
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